Toothpick holders



March 17, 1959 K. H. SEVERSON TOOTHPICK HOLDERS F'iled Jan. 20, 1958 INVENTOR.

KERMVT H- SEVERSON United States Patent TOOTHPICK HOLDERS Kermit H. Severson, Wayzata, Minn.

Application January 20, 1958, Serial No. 709,903

Claims. (Cl. 206-37) This invention relates to containers which are adapted to be carried upon the person and has particular reference to a toothpick or the like holder.

Heretofore all of the toothpick holders held all the toothpicks in one chamber where they would bunch together and be difiicult to dispense.

It is an object of this invention to provide in a toothpick holder a casing having a plurality of spaced apart chambers.

It is another object of this invention to provide in a toothpick holder of a closure means which is securely held in its adjusted positions.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a toothpick holder which houses each toothpick in a separate chamber and which provides means so that the contents of the chambers can be viewed without opening the chambers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description, taken in connection with the annexed drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved holder.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the top of the holder disclosing the closure means for the holder in open position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the top of the holder disclosing the closure in closed position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified holder.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the modified holder.

Referring in detail to the drawing, is a rectangular holder or casing which is not relatively thick. The holder 10 is made of a transparent plastic material. Six spaced elongated chambers 12 are formed in the casing 10 and each chamber 12 is provided with an opening 14 in the top of the casing 10. Any even number of chambers may be formed in the casing 10.

An arcuate track 16 is formed across the top of the casing 10. The track 16 is open except for a small cover portion 18 at each end of the track 16. A very thin and resilient elongated metal rectangular slide or valve 20 which is normally fiat, is slidably mounted in the track 16. The inherent tendency of the slide 20 to straighten out to its normal fiat position will cause the slide to engage in tight frictional contact in the arcuate track 16 thereby assuring that the slide is retained in its adjusted positions in the track 16.

The slide 20 is provided with a small depression or dent 22 at each end thereof. The under side of the covers 18 is provided with a nib or teat 24 which registers with the dent 22 in the slide 20 for aiding in holding the slide 20 in the ends of the track 16. The slide 20 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 26. A knob 21 is provided for the slide 20. When the slide 20 is moved to one end of the track 16, see Figure 2, the apertures 26 automatically register with the openings 14 for the chambers 12 in casing 10. The slide 20 upon engagement with the other end of the track 16 covers all the openings 14 for the chambers 12, see Figure 3.

Since the casing 10 is made of a transparent plastic material, it is possible to see if there are toothpicks in the chambers 12.

Each chamber 12 is of a size to hold a single toothpick. Where a single toothpick is housed in a chamber 12 of a holder 10, it is easy to remove a toothpick without touching another toothpick. This holder 10 provides a sanitary device for holding toothpicks.

The casing 10 is provided with an aperture 30 adjacent its bottom so that a key chain may be attached to the casing 10.

The present holder 10 is adapted to be either carried in a pocket of a suit or in a purse.

Casing 32 sets forth a modified type of toothpick holder. The casing 32 is rectangular in shape and relatively thin so that it may be carried on a person. The casing 32 is made of a rubberized plastic material and is provided with six spaced apart longitudinal chambers 34. Slits 36 in the side 31 communicate with each of the chambers 34. Since the casing 32 is made of an elastic material, the slits 36 for the chambers 34 are normally closed. To insert a toothpick into the chambers 34 in casing 32, the slits are pulled apart with the fingers. To remove a toothpick from a chamber 34, its slit 36 is pulled apart.

Certain variations from the precise forms illustrated will suggest themselves to anyone skilled in the art. It is not, therefore, intended to limit this invention to the precise disclosure, but only as set forth in the subjoined claims which are to be broadly construed.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described comprising a container having a top, a plurality of longitudinally spaced chambers in the container, each of the chambers provided with an outlet in the top of the container, an arcuate track formed in the top of the container, a very thin and resilient elongated rectangular slide normally flat over its full length and breadth and held throughout its entire length and breadth in full surface contact with the said arcuate track against its inherent tendency to flatten out, the slide provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, the slide movable in the track for registering the apertures in the slide with the openings for the spaced chambers, and for covering the openings for said chambers, the sprung slide being positively held in its positions of adjustment.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1 wherein when the slide is moved to one end of the track, the apertures in the slide register with the openings for the spaced chambers, and when the slide is moved to the other end of the track the slide covers the openings for the spaced chambers in the container.

3. In a device as set forth in claim 1 wherein lock means aids in holding the slide in its adjusted positions in the track.

4. In a device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container is rectangular in shape and relatively thin in thickness.

5. In a device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container is formed of a transparent plastic material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,546,708 Weingardt Mar. 27, 1951 2,771,990 Buschkamper Nov. 27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 583,826 France Jan. 22, 1925 

